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Houma boxers take road less traveled

Bobby Douglas (left) and Trey Alexander, both of Houma, recently won their amateur boxing debuts.

Keyon K. Jeff/Correspondent

Keyon K. JeffSports Correspondent

Published: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 7:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 12:31 a.m.

The route to a boxing career usually begins in a gym with a pedigree of training fighters.

But for Houma natives Bobby Douglas and Trey Alexander, becoming the first boxers launched from Pro Athletic Performance appealed to them.

"It seemed too easy. That's like going to good team completely made, whereas I can come to a gym where there's no boxing and prove my worth," said Douglas, 23, on not going with a traditional boxing gym. "I'd rather start at the bottom make it to the top."

"We want to build our own legacy," Alexander, 19, said. "I think it's better to prove yourself than to have it easy."

The duo won their amateur debuts March 9 by unanimous decision in New Orleans. Douglas, a middleweight, defeated D'Antoine Crosby and forced standing eight count in the third round. Alexander, a lightweight, beat Jeremiah Fleming and had a knockdown in the third round.

"As nervous as we were, in the back of our minds we couldn't afford to lose after all the training did," Douglas said.

"It's a good feeling knowing all the hard work you put in finally paid off," Alexander said.

The pair had extensive athletic backgrounds before getting into boxing.

Alexander, a 2011 Ellender graduate, played varsity basketball for the Patriots. Douglas, a 2007 South Terrebonne graduate, competed at the 2005 and 2006 Junior Olympics track and field meet in the 4x100 relay and the triple, high and long jumps.

About a year ago, Douglas said he was working out at PAP and started to develop an interest in boxing. That's when he turned to PAP owner and trainer David Butler, who was looking into starting a boxing program at the gym.

"I wanted to try it but needed somewhere to box, so I came to David Butler and ask for help," Douglas said. "He said I came at the right time."

Both Douglas and Alexander became actively involved in the gym's boxing program, turning their initial boxing interests into something real.

"They are in the gym training six to seven days a week," Butler said. "It has become a passion for both of them.

In the last six months, Butler said the young boxers have developed their ring skills under the tutelage of Houma boxing coach Ranney Davis.

The pair does a lot of film study of their favorite fighters. For Alexander, it is Floyd Mayweather Jr.; for Douglas it's Muhammad Ali, Roy Jones Jr. and James Toney.

Meanwhile, David and Brandon Butler are building their strength and conditioning with fighter specific workouts designed by nationally known trainer Kurt Hester, who personally trained David at LSU.

"It's testing your muscle durability. Instead of just many explosive for one or two rounds you're explosive for every round," Brandon Butler said. "It's a type of training where you don't show any signs of fatigue."

Two weeks prior to Douglas and Alexander's first fight, the Butlers brought in former world middleweight champion Robert Allen, who dramatically improved their defensive skills, use of the jab and how to trade punches with opponents. He was thoroughly impressed by the duo's stamina and ability to learn quickly.

"They had more conditioning then skill level when we started, but every day they got further along. I'm excited about working with them," said Allen, who trains out of Atlanta. "They seem to be real hungry. The sky's the limit."

"When Robert saw their first fight, he gave them the utmost respect. He's very interested in continuing on," David Butler said. "We just have to work out a schedule where either we're going to Atlanta a couple times, or he's going to come down here."

Douglas and Alexander, who recently discovered they are cousins, know they still have plenty to learn. They need to sharpen the technique, throw quicker jabs and hooks and stay in the pocket.

For now, they are content with coaching boxing classes at PAP while they continuing building their resume in the amateur ranks.

"We're just taking things one step at a time, keep winning, keep working hard, and in the long run I know that it's going to pay off," Alexander said. "Sooner or later we'll go pro."

<p>The route to a boxing career usually begins in a gym with a pedigree of training fighters.</p><p>But for Houma natives Bobby Douglas and Trey Alexander, becoming the first boxers launched from Pro Athletic Performance appealed to them.</p><p>"It seemed too easy. That's like going to good team completely made, whereas I can come to a gym where there's no boxing and prove my worth," said Douglas, 23, on not going with a traditional boxing gym. "I'd rather start at the bottom make it to the top."</p><p>"We want to build our own legacy," Alexander, 19, said. "I think it's better to prove yourself than to have it easy."</p><p>The duo won their amateur debuts March 9 by unanimous decision in New Orleans. Douglas, a middleweight, defeated D'Antoine Crosby and forced standing eight count in the third round. Alexander, a lightweight, beat Jeremiah Fleming and had a knockdown in the third round.</p><p>On March 16, Douglas defeated Henry Gillum by unanimous decision in Ocean Springs, Miss., to go 2-0.</p><p>"As nervous as we were, in the back of our minds we couldn't afford to lose after all the training did," Douglas said.</p><p>"It's a good feeling knowing all the hard work you put in finally paid off," Alexander said.</p><p>The pair had extensive athletic backgrounds before getting into boxing. </p><p>Alexander, a 2011 Ellender graduate, played varsity basketball for the Patriots. Douglas, a 2007 South Terrebonne graduate, competed at the 2005 and 2006 Junior Olympics track and field meet in the 4x100 relay and the triple, high and long jumps. </p><p>About a year ago, Douglas said he was working out at PAP and started to develop an interest in boxing. That's when he turned to PAP owner and trainer David Butler, who was looking into starting a boxing program at the gym. </p><p>"I wanted to try it but needed somewhere to box, so I came to David Butler and ask for help," Douglas said. "He said I came at the right time."</p><p>Both Douglas and Alexander became actively involved in the gym's boxing program, turning their initial boxing interests into something real. </p><p>"They are in the gym training six to seven days a week," Butler said. "It has become a passion for both of them. </p><p>In the last six months, Butler said the young boxers have developed their ring skills under the tutelage of Houma boxing coach Ranney Davis.</p><p>The pair does a lot of film study of their favorite fighters. For Alexander, it is Floyd Mayweather Jr.; for Douglas it's Muhammad Ali, Roy Jones Jr. and James Toney.</p><p>Meanwhile, David and Brandon Butler are building their strength and conditioning with fighter specific workouts designed by nationally known trainer Kurt Hester, who personally trained David at LSU.</p><p>"It's testing your muscle durability. Instead of just many explosive for one or two rounds you're explosive for every round," Brandon Butler said. "It's a type of training where you don't show any signs of fatigue."</p><p>Two weeks prior to Douglas and Alexander's first fight, the Butlers brought in former world middleweight champion Robert Allen, who dramatically improved their defensive skills, use of the jab and how to trade punches with opponents. He was thoroughly impressed by the duo's stamina and ability to learn quickly.</p><p>"They had more conditioning then skill level when we started, but every day they got further along. I'm excited about working with them," said Allen, who trains out of Atlanta. "They seem to be real hungry. The sky's the limit."</p><p>"When Robert saw their first fight, he gave them the utmost respect. He's very interested in continuing on," David Butler said. "We just have to work out a schedule where either we're going to Atlanta a couple times, or he's going to come down here."</p><p>Douglas and Alexander, who recently discovered they are cousins, know they still have plenty to learn. They need to sharpen the technique, throw quicker jabs and hooks and stay in the pocket.</p><p>For now, they are content with coaching boxing classes at PAP while they continuing building their resume in the amateur ranks.</p><p>"We're just taking things one step at a time, keep winning, keep working hard, and in the long run I know that it's going to pay off," Alexander said. "Sooner or later we'll go pro."</p>